Clasp



Feb."5, 1935- E. c H. BARNETTE CLASP Filed Mal ch 6, 1934 INVENTOR 11 660722??? WITNESSES 324x 7/ TTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1935 1 Claim.

This invention relates to clasps, and more particularly to a clasp adapted to be secured to the under surface of womans dress, an object of the invention being to securely clamp and hold a shoulder strap or shoulder straps of under garments to prevent the shoulder strap from falling oif the shoulder of the wearer.

A further object is to provide a clasp of this character, which can be conveniently attached to a dress; which can be manufactured and sold for a reasonably low price, and which will more effectually perform the functions for which it is intended.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved clasp attached to a dress, showing a portion of the dress broken away to illustrate the parts below;

Fig. 2 is a similar inverted perspective View showing the clasp in partially open position;

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section through the clasp;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the spring to hold the two members of the clamp in operative position;

Fig. 6 is a somewhat enlarged view in transverse section through the hinge portion of the clasp;

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of one of the resilient hinge disks shown in Fig. 6.

My improved clasp or clamp comprises an upper stationary plate 1 and a lower movable plate 2. The stationary plate 1 is formed with perforations 3 to receive stitches 4, to securely clamp the plate 1 to the under face of the shoulder portion of a dress 5 and preferably along the seam portion 6 of the shoulder of the dress. This plate 1 is pro-- vided, adjacent one end, with a pair of perforated ears '7'7, and the movable plate 2 is provided, near one end, with laterally-projecting trunnions 8, which are positioned in the perforated ears 7 to pivotally connect the two plates. A somewhat bowed spring 9 is located between the ears '7, and is recessed at its ends, as shown at 10, to receive said ears and to maintain the spring 9 in operative position. The plate 2 is formed at its hinge end with a tongue 11, projecting at right angles to the plate 2, and adapted to engage the spring the shoulder portion of a' 9 and ride over said spring to hold the plate 2 in its closed or clamped position.

In addition to the spring 9, or supplemental thereto, I may provide concavo-convex spring disks 12 on the trunnions 8, to bear against the ears 7 and resiliently bind the movable clamping plate 2 in its position of adjustment. This clamping plate 2 is formed at its free end with a lip 13 adapted to engage plate 1 and form a complete enclosure for a shoulder strap or shoulder straps 14 inserted between the plates 1 and 2. The plate 2 is also preferably provided with a series of projwtions 15, which are adapted to clamp the shoulder strap 14 against the plate 1, but it will be noted'that these projections 15 are lower than the lip 13 so that while they exert a frictional binding action on the shoulder strap, the lip 13 acts as a complete closure to prevent any possibility of the shoulder strap escaping from the clamp.

A clamp of this character can be readily sewed by stitching to the under face and seam portion of the shoulders of a dress, and when thus attached the wearer of the dress can readily insert a hand under the shoulder portion of the dress and open the clamp, position the shoulder strap or straps 14 in the clamp, and then close the clamp, the spring action at the hinge portion of the clamp effectually holding the clamp in closed position and insuring the retention of the shoulder strap or straps therein.

While I have illustrated what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that various slight changes may be made with regard to the form and arrangement of parts without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the claim.

What I claim is:

A clasp of the character described comprising a stationary plate, a pair of perforated ears at one end of the stationary plate, a hinge plate, trunnions on the hinge plate mounted in the perforated ears, a tongue on the hinge plate adjacent the trunnions and projecting at a substantial right angle to the hinge plate, a spring interposed between the stationary plate and the tongue and having recesses in its ends receiving the ears on the stationary plate, and concavoconvex split spring washers located on the trunnions and bearing against'the perforated ears.

EMMA C. HANSEN BARNETTE. 

